About Stan
A statesman, an engineer, and a neighbor.
Eight years as El Paso County Commissioner. Decades in the military and in industry. A Coloradan who has hiked, flown, and worked across this state.
Why I'm Running
Colorado Springs has the bones. We need the leadership.
I love this city. I have raised my family here, hiked its trails, served its county, and watched it grow into something remarkable. But I have also watched it drift — a $40 million budget surprise, police staffing that goes backward, infrastructure decisions made by gut feeling instead of engineering.
We are not drifting because the people are failing. We are drifting because the leadership is. Colorado Springs has more going for it than almost any mid-sized city in America — five military installations, world-class outdoor recreation, a growing tech and defense sector, and neighbors who genuinely care about their community.
I have the most experience and the most demonstrated success in local government among any candidate in this race. I am not running on slogans. I am running on a record — and a plan.
This is one of my passions. And I want to be doing my passion. — Stan
Stan Vanderwerf is a retired military Colonel, an industrial engineer, and a two-term El Paso County Commissioner. He has lived, worked, and raised his family in Colorado Springs — and he believes this city has every ingredient it needs to become the best mid-sized city in the nation.
Service in uniform
Stan served as a Colonel in the United States military, leading large organizations through complex missions. Military command taught him the most important leadership lesson of his life: the best ideas almost never come from the top. They come from the people doing the work — and a good leader's job is to surface, harness, and act on them.
Eight years in local government
As El Paso County Commissioner for District 3 — covering western Colorado Springs — Stan helped lead a team that delivered more than $100 million in infrastructure improvements over eight years, all without raising taxes. That work was funded by hunting grants aggressively, finding operational efficiencies, and replacing more than 250 aging vehicles that were dragging productivity down through constant breakdowns.
Stan chaired the county and built a robust legislative team that fought back against state-level regulations driving up the cost of housing and doing business. He served alongside Republicans, Democrats, and unaffiliated leaders — and he showed up at meetings hosted by people who did not share his politics, because that is how trust is built.
An engineer's mind
Stan holds a degree in industrial engineering. That training shapes how he approaches every problem — with measurement, simulation, and tradeoff analysis rather than slogans. As mayor, he intends to stand up a city simulation office that can run thousands of "what-ifs" on roads, fire evacuations, and growth scenarios — so we make decisions with data, not guesswork.
Bipartisan, by record
Governor Jared Polis appointed Stan to the Colorado State Board of Health — and re-confirmed him to a subsequent term. Mayors of both parties from across Colorado have offered to support this campaign. Stan is a Republican, but he does not see red and blue when it comes to running a city. He sees neighbors.
A Coloradan to the core
Stan has summited Denali. He is an active pilot. Last year he visited more than 75 national parks. He hikes the Pikes Peak region every chance he gets — and you'll often see him on a trail crew with the Rocky Mountain Field Institute repairing the trails that make this region special.
He has been married for 36 years and is deeply rooted in this community. He is currently President of the Pikes Peak Firearms Coalition and has served on numerous boards across the region.
A Quick Snapshot
The record at a glance
Military Veteran
Retired Colonel. Decades in command and engineering roles.
County Commissioner
Two terms representing District 3 — western Colorado Springs.
Industrial Engineer
Brings simulation, measurement, and analysis to public policy.
Mountaineer
Denali summit. 75+ national parks visited last year.
Pilot
Active pilot, including humanitarian Angel Flight West missions.
Family Man
36 years married. Deep roots in Colorado Springs neighborhoods.
Campaign Values
What we stand for
These are not talking points. They are the principles Stan has governed by for eight years — and will govern by as Mayor.
-
Limited government.
Governments are too big and need to be limited. Solve problems locally, with private action wherever possible.
-
Statesmanship & diplomacy.
Everything we do will be with statesmanship and diplomacy. Respect, even in disagreement.
-
Free people, free markets.
People and markets need to be free. A city that gets out of the way and lets neighbors and businesses thrive.
-
Safety first.
Our goals are safety, financial security, healthy neighborhoods, and pride in what we do. Without safe neighborhoods, the rest is impossible.
-
Good schools, good jobs, good neighborhoods.
Everyone wants good schools, a job, secure housing, and a fun place to go on a Saturday night. That's what we're working toward.
-
Everybody in.
We will partner with any company, organization, or person willing to help Colorado Springs. Anyone who wants to help is welcome on this team.
-
Smart, defined growth.
We define what smart growth means for this city — before developers and state mandates define it for us.
-
In God we trust.
Faith and family are the foundation of strong communities. We honor that foundation.